Clamp unit with housed actuating cam



April 19, 1960 J. G. IMPARATO 2,932,868

CLAMP UNIT WITH HOUSED ACTUATING CAM Filed Aug. 27. 1958 INVENTOR JPMK6. IMP/mam HTTORNEY United States This invention relates to clamp unitsemploying a pair of flanged clamp plates drawn by a rod-like member,wherein one of the clamp plates includes a housing portion, withinboundaries of which is arranged and operated an actuating cam elementrotatable about said rod in movement of the plates into operative andinoperative positions.

More particularly, the invention deals in a structure of the characterdescribed wherein one of the plates is adjustably fixed on the rod, andthe other plate and said rod include camming surfaces operativelyengaged by the cam element in actuation of the clamp.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken vtogether with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a clamp unit made according to myinvention, illustrating the same in operative position, parts of theconstruction being broken away and parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with part ofthe construction broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 1, with thepart shown in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the cam element detached and with parts of theconstruction broken away and in section; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, with part of theconstruction broken away.

My improved clamp unit comprises four primary basic parts; namely, a topplate 10, a bottom plate 11, a coupling rod or member 12, and anactuating cam element 13.

Both plates and 11 are generally of the contour illustrated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing and have curved end flanges 10' and 11' respectively,flanges 10 and 11' being directed toward each other, as noted in Fig. 1,in establishing clamping engagement with flanged ends of drums or otherarticles to be coupled together by the unit. Representations of thearticles are not indicated as clamps of the type and kind underconsideration are well known in the art.

The plate 10 has centrally thereof a deep housing 14 which is contracteddownwardly to a slight extent, the bottom wall of the housing having anaperture 15 in which the rod 12 is freely disposed. The upper surface ofthe bottom wall of the housing has on opposed sides raised cam portions,one of which is illustrated in section at 16 in the broken section, Fig.l.

The plate 11 has an upwardly extended internally threaded bearingportion 17 for reception of the threaded end :18 of the rod, said end ofthe rod having spaced apertures 19, 19 to provide adjustable positioningof ,the plate 11 on the threaded end of the rod in controlling 7 primaryspacing of the plates 10 and 11.

In the construction shown a drive coupling pin 20 atent 2,932,868 Pa entd Ap 19, 1960 ice 2 is illustrated in the aperture 19, thus providingthe widest spacing of the plates 10 and 11.

The pin 20 is made sufiiciently long to retain an elliptical springplate 21 against displacement from the inner surface of the plate 11.Rounded ends of the plate 21, note Fig. 5 of the drawing, have raisedspring portions 22 which are shown in section in Fig. l of the drawing.

The inner surfaces of the sides of the spring 21 have rounded notches,as seen at 23 in Fig. 5 of the drawing, to engage downwardly projectingribs 24 on the bearing portion 17 to key the spring 21 to the plate 11,thus preventing rotatable shifting of the spring thereon.

The upper end of the rod 12 has a cam portion 25 which in theconstruction seen is in the form of a ring pinned to the rod 12, as seenat 26. The lower surface of 25 has, on opposed sides and in alignmentwith the cams 16, depending cams, one of which is shown at 27 in Fig. 1of the drawing. Also fixed to the rod 12, inwardly of the plate 10 orthe housing 14 thereof, is another pin 28, which maintains the plate 10in the environment of the element 13.

The element 13 is generally cup-shaped in form and the outer end portionof the large diameter bore 29 is in the form of a hexagon socket, asclearly noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the element, including thebottom wall 30, having a bore 31 therein to freely receive the rod 12.

The bottom wall 30 has, on opposed sides thereof, upwardly anddownwardly extending cam portions 32 and 33, indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1 of the drawing and shown in section in Fig. 3 of the drawing.The downwardly extending cam portions 33 are also clearly noted in Fig.4 of the drawing, and the high points of the cams 33 have recesses as at34, note Fig. 4 of the drawing, to engage the cam 16, in definitelyretaining the clamp in the locked position of Fig. 1 of the drawing.

At this time it is pointed out that the particular contour of the cams16, 27, 32 and 33 can be modified to pro vide the desired clampingaction, and these cams can extend a greater circumferential degree thanthat diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing.

It will be understood that in the use of the clamp the flanged portionsof supports will be positioned between the plates 10 and 11, inwardly ofthe flanges 10 and 11' thereof, with the plate 10 and element 13 in theposition of Fig. 3, which would be the open position of the clamp,whereupon a suitable tool fitting the hexagon socket 29 is actuated torotate the element 13, which results in moving the plate 10 in thedirection of the plate 11 by downward action of the plate 10 along therod 12, which rod, at the same time, is raised, drawing the plate 11 inthe direction of the plate 10.

In removal of the clamp from the articles the clamp parts are returnedto the position of Fig. 3 by again rotating the element 13. It will alsobe apparent that in the locked position of the clamp, the spring 21serves to maintain the cam 16 in the notches or recesses 34.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing that whenthe unit is in operative position the element 13 is contained within thehousing, thus no part protrudes beyond the outer surface of the plate16.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamp unit of the character described comprising two clamp plateshaving flanged end portions adapted to'engage articles to be coupled bysaid unit, a rod one end of which is fixed to one plate, the other plateincluding a housing, the bottom wall of the housing being apertured tofreely receive the other end of said rod which extends into the housing,said wall having on opposed sides inwardly extending cam portions, thesecond named end of the rod having cam portions directed toward thefirst named cam portions, and maintained in alignment therewith byengagement of the plates with the articles to be coupled, an actuatingelement, rotatably mounted on the rod within said housing, .said elementhaving an angular socket for tool rotation thereof, and said elementhaving opposed upwardly and downwardly extending cam portionsoperatively engaging the cams of said housing and rod in movement of theplates toward eachother into clamping engagement.

2. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein yieldable means is employed formaintaining the unit in operative engagement with articles to be coupledin said unit.

3. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachlment of the firstnamed plate with said rod being ad justable.

4. A unit'asfdefined in claim 1, wherein the cams of said rod comprise aring fixed to the second named end of said rod.

5. A unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the rod inv References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,331 Doxsee May 30,1905 1,262,300 Blake Apr. 9, 1918 2,615,220 Imparato Oct. 28, 19522,682,694 Kempkes July-6, 1954 2,782,957 Imparato Feb. 26,v 1957

